Cornelius Evans facts for kids
Cornelius Evans was a French man who lived in the 1600s. He became known as an impostor because he pretended to be someone he wasn't – a prince!
Evans was born in Marseille, a city in France. His father was from Wales, and his mother was from a region in France called Provence.
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The Prince's Look-Alike
In 1648, Cornelius Evans noticed something important: he looked a lot like Prince Charles, who was the son of the King of England! Prince Charles was also known as the Prince of Wales.
Because of this resemblance, Evans decided to travel to England. His plan was to pretend he was the real Prince Charles.
A Royal Visit to Sandwich
Evans arrived in England and went to an inn in a town called Sandwich, Kent. He told everyone that he was Prince Charles and that he had run away from France. He claimed that his supposed mother, Queen Henrietta, was planning to harm him.
The people of Sandwich believed him! The Mayor of Sandwich treated him with great respect. One of the town's important officials, called an alderman, even let Evans stay at his own house. They treated him just like he was the true heir to the throne.
Evans acted like a real prince, accepting all the attention and gifts from the wealthy people in the area.
The Truth Comes Out
However, Evans's trick didn't last forever. The real Queen Henrietta and Prince Charles heard about the impostor. They sent a special messenger, called a courtier, to Sandwich to expose Evans.
When the courtier arrived, he told everyone that Evans was a fake. But Evans wasn't scared! He boldly ordered the mayor to arrest the courtier instead.
The Escape and Capture
Around the same time, a group of royalists (people who supported the King) came to Sandwich to catch Evans. Evans quickly ran away through a back door.
But he didn't get far. He was soon caught and taken to Canterbury, and then to London. There, he was sent to Newgate Prison.
A Clever Escape
Even in prison, Cornelius Evans proved to be very clever. He managed to escape from Newgate Prison not long after he was put there. After his escape, no one ever heard from him again. His story became a curious tale of a man who dared to pretend he was a prince.
